Hard-rubber compound called



UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS J. MAYALL, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,840, dated. October 4, 1881.

Application filed May 7, 1881. (No specimens.)

To all whom, it may concern M Be it known that I, 1' clan-so. 'MAYALL, of leading, in the county of l\liddiesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hard-Rubber Compounds, which I call Artificial Horn, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a strong, durable, and beautiful material, of and from which door-handles,tool-handles, handles and ornaments for furniture and cabinet-work, picture-frames, all kinds oi'ornamental objects, vases, and many other articles ibr use or ornament may be made at a comparatively moderate cost; and it consists in thoroughly combining and curing and hardening by heat of pure rubber, one pound; sulphide or sulphuret ot' antimony, three-quarters to one 'and onequarier pound; and graphite, one-halt'a pound to one pound. These materials I thoroughly commingle and blend togetherin a plastic mass, and then I cure or harden it by heat, either in the mass or molded to the form or forms of the objects to be made of it.

The process of curing "21d. lr ltdemng' this compound is the same as the \vell-knowo process of curing and hardening rubber and sulphnr compounds, to produce what is termed hard rubber in all respects, except that. I gradually increase the temperature ofthe oven or steam-chamberin which it is heated. I begin and continue the heat for about one hour at about 235 Fahrenheit, and one hour at about 245, one hour at about 255, one hour at about 265, one hour at about 275, and one hour at about 300,when it is sufficiently cured.

The product is sufficiently like horn in appearance to suggest the name lhave given it, and useful and desirable for the purposes mentioned, and for many other uses.

I can and do vary the colors by the use of the several different colors of sulphide or sulphnret ot' antimony now produced.

The objects made from this prod not will generally be finished and polished after hardening if they are cured and hardened in or near the form they are to take when finished.

It the compound is cured and hardened in a mass objects to he made from it will be sawed, turned, out, and carved as the case may require into the form desired, and then finished and polished.

I claim as new and my in vention l. The above-described artificial horn, consisting of rubber, sulphide or sulphuret of antimony, and graphitecommingled togetherand cured and hardened, all substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

2. As new articles of manufacture, handles and other objects made of or from the abovedesoribed artificial horn.

THOS. J. MAYALL.

Witnesses: 011s. HOUGHTON, H. KENNEY, Jr. 

